Little Ones

My sister once tried to witness to an older gentleman, who told her he was an atheist. As they continued the conversation, it turned out that he had gone to Sunday school faithfully as a child. One day, his dog had died. He asked his Sunday school teacher if dogs go to heaven. She flippantly replied, “Of course not.” He told my sister that at that moment he decided that he didn’t want to go to heaven then either.

I don’t think the right response would have been for her to lie. But perhaps if the teacher had taken time to see the child’s sadness behind his question, and had given the truth with love, maybe the result would have been different. Maybe not. It’s a sobering thought for anyone who works with children.

I remember an adult lied to me when I was very young. They probably thought that I wouldn’t remember or know the difference anyway. But eventually the truth came to light and I remembered it all. It wasn’t the specific lie that bothered me the most…it was the fact that I had been lied to by someone I thought I could trust. To this day, I find it difficult to trust or give people the benefit of the doubt.

The Bible says in Luke 17:1-2 “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

We have opportunities to shape the next generation every day, whether that’s as parents, nursery workers, or Bible teachers. Even if we’re not actively serving in one of these capacities, little ones are watching, taking in our testimonies. What we might think is no big deal (good or bad), could make a world of difference to the little ones in our lives. Let us be sensitive to them as we seek to reach them for Christ “…for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16